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The Illusion of Fear by Kel E Fox The best cure for a broken heart is to solve an art crime. Obviously. After his partner is killed on a mission gone wrong, disavowed spy and magician Del Fevre exiles himself to Acrusi, the only city in the world where his agency can’t find him. But his plans for a peaceful hideaway where he can make illusion art and avoid awkward questions are thwarted when his arrival coincides with a mysterious art theft, and Del might be a suspect. Danger, daring and a handsome detective conspire to make Del’s exile anything but peaceful. The Illusion of Fear is a prequel novella for the Whisperers series, a romantic gaslamp fantasy with art crime and political intrigue. |
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Once Upon a Dark October by Jessie Thomas All curses made in blood must be broken with blood. Dreadmist Harbor sleeps under a near-perpetual veil of coastal fog, home to mortals, vampires, and those somewhere in between. Already down-on-her-luck, mortal charwoman Elspeth finds herself the target of a rogue vampire, shattering the peaceful coexistence. Forced to seek help from a reclusive vampire coven, she barely makes it to their dreary seaside perch before she succumbs to the bite. Morrigan and her coven are haunted by a bitter rivalry that has left them devastated and fractured. As their old feud is once again rekindled, she is inexorably tied to Elspeth, who now carries an ancient vampiric power within her. The two are quickly swept up into a tangle of bloodlust and sorcery after the fraught transformation—realizing that matters of the heart are complicated, especially in undeath. While something sinister gathers in the shadows of their quiet town, they are pulled deeper into a world of curses and magic, dark dealings and betrayal. But Elspeth and Morrigan soon learn that all power must come with a price, for curses are not so easily broken. |
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The Hytharo Redux by Jonathan Weiss A THOUSAND YEARS AGO THE HYTHARO WERE WIPED OUT. A THOUSAND YEARS LATER SPIRIC WAS SAVED. Lost among the dune-swept ruins of ancient glass towers, 14-year-old Spiric hunts for his stolen memories. Guided by the exiled scholar that found him, he embarks on a perilous journey across the Droughtlands to uncover his origins. He’s told his red eyes mark him as a Hytharo, one of the long-extinct storm callers that sealed all water into the air itself before they were erased from history. In the thousand years since, thirst has been quenched simply by breathing, but that hasn’t stopped the surviving runic peoples from wanting water any less. For without it, there’s no ink, no runes, no magic, and in the vast desert wastes of the Droughtlands, magic means power. To Spiric, the mantra is eerily familiar. Word of his presence ripples across the Droughtlands and pressure mounts on him to reverse the Hytharo’s final, sacrificial act. It’s only as his memories begin to return that he realises the true reason his people were wiped out. With the fragments of Spiric’s memories growing bloodier and more desperate, he must determine whether carrying out his supposed fate will cause history to repeat, or if he can forge a new destiny, both for himself and the Droughtlands. |
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A Sharper, More Lasting Pain by Alex Harvey-Rivas After their girlfriend’s best friend is wounded in a monster attack, Simone Allard stumbles across a plot much deeper than they anticipated. As they work to find a cure to their own forming illness and find out the truth, one question remains: how was Nadia involved in this? Nadia DuPont doesn’t know how much time she has or even what is ailing her, but it all gets more complex after meeting Simone on a field trip. As they both work to find a cure to her ailment, all Nadia is certain of is she's on the path to ruin. |
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Under the Dragon Moon by Mawce Hanlin To break the thread of weaver’s fate, those who witness must weave anew… Mael Nguyen doesn’t believe in fate, but he does believe in magic. His entire life revolves around the study of the arcane—spells and rituals, potions and illusions. As far as Mael is concerned, all he needs is a book in one hand and magic in the other. Anything outside of his bookshop, hidden away in the streets of New Orleans, isn’t worth his attention. But when a strange human stumbles into his life and hires him for a job, bringing along his blinding smile and curious magic, Mael finds that Fate is just as dangerous as Magic. Leo Greyson refuses to believe in fate, but he desperately wishes to believe in magic. As a small time rockstar, full time radio host, Leo has never been one to shy away from experience and adventure. He’s always lived his life on the edge—always moving, never standing still. But when his twin sister is murdered, and he gains custody of her strangely magical daughter, that constant motion comes to a screeching halt. Instead, he is launched into an entirely new world hidden right beneath his nose, and Leo finds himself wondering if Fate really does exist, and if she’s led him right where he needs to be. A queer take on magic, murder, and romance, fans of The Dresden Files, Howls Moving Castle, and A Marvelous Light will find family, acceptance, and a fantastical new world to get lost in within the pages of Under the Dragon Moon, the first book in the Belamour Archives Saga. |
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The Whisperer in White by Y. R. Liu When the Whisperer speaks, the universe listens. Growing up, Talia had never given much thought to the gray-robed Whisperers and their powers over reality. Their business was protecting the world; hers was hunting in the forest around her village and trying to stay out of trouble. Unfortunately for Tal, one Whisperer in particular becomes her business when she accidentally injures his companion, a talking cat-shaped creature named Morel. As punishment, she becomes the Whisperer’s prisoner, whisked away to his island home for a year and a day of servitude. There is much to do — for both the Whisperer and for Tal — as he prepares for the ritual that must be completed every hundred years to ensure the safety of the world. Tal does as she is told; her priority is to simply finish out her sentence and return home to her family. Yet there are many secrets on the island, many oddities, and they tug at Tal like an itch. As the year goes on, she learns more of the Whisperer, his duties, and the horrifying evils that he and the other Whisperers keep at bay. But secrets still remain: a room that is always locked, a stone monument in the woods, crimson flowers whose very name causes the Whisperer to storm away. Unbeknownst to Tal, something is watching her, and what she does now may alter the fate of the world. |
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The Cradle of Eternal Night by Ladz In a land lit only by the counterfeit warmth of magical technology, the Kler prays for the return of the sun, the moons, and the stars. Ceaseless night and the beasts lurking in the darkness keep the congregation within the Kolebka Wiecznej Nocy trapped in mirthless vigil. Their towns remain quiet as graveyards as they wait for day to come again. What no one knows about this ceaseless night is that the Kler themselves can end it. But they haven’t, and they won’t. Long ago, the Kler banished the sun worshipers, but a heretical sect made the journey back to the land of darkness. Now, only one remains carrying their purpose heavy on her shoulders: a maverick technomancer named Basia. She alone will bring back the light, or no one will. Armed with naught but her own cleverness and a sword imbued with sun-embraced charms, she searches for the Kler’s secrets and finds herself in Tawerna. With the Kler on her heels, she infiltrates a private feast and catches Hanka, a docile bard, in the middle of planning her own escape into the world beyond. Hanka wants nothing to do with the heretical outsider until she discovers that her purpose aligns with the darkness buried inside herself. Hanka knows the secrets the Kler keeps, and she knows just where to go to expose their lies. With only each other and their heretical magic to rely on, Basia and Hanka face the eternal night and wonder, are they truly enough to bring light back to the world? |
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Riyati Rebirth by Kalani Shimizu With great power comes your past incarnations and future self playing chess with your existence. Kylie Rae thought she was an average honors high school student but discovered during a life-threatening incident that she’s the reincarnation of an ancient magic kingdom’s crown princess. Now people she’s never met want her dead, and she must learn how to survive in this new world while maintaining the façade that nothing’s changed. Forget making A’s, how will Kylie survive to the end of the year when she’s constantly looking over her shoulder? Riyati Rebirth is the first book of a contemporary new adult dark fantasy series that seeks to explore themes of identity, legacy, the greater good, and finding your own path in life; it includes multiple first person perspectives and queer representation, which will expand even further as the series continues! |
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Of Blood and Aether by Harper Hawthorne A rare conduit of Light, drawn to the Shadows. A spymaster who can’t seem to stay away. For as long as she can remember, Arken Asher has been searching for answers—driven by an insatiable hunger, a need to understand the meaning behind her dangerous arcane secrets. She’s finally taken that leap into the unknown, leaving her simple life behind to attend the Arcane Studium: a prestigious college of magickal arts & sciences nestled in the heart of Sophrosyne: the City of the Gods. As the Scouting & Reconnaissance Captain of the Elder Guard, Kieran Vistarii deals in Shadows, blood and subterfuge. Scarred by his past but dedicated to safeguarding Sophrosyne’s future, Kieran’s self-imposed isolation is easily masked by charm and cocksure energy. Strange disappearances have kept his cadre busy as of late, and yet the captain finds himself sidetracked, distracted by the inexplicable allure of a certain golden-eyed Conduit and her curious mind. They both know better than to get involved, but the Fates have other plans. The dark threads of prophecy were woven long ago, and the ties that bind just might be what it takes to mend these broken, star-crossed souls… or what forges a deadly bond that could damn them all. |
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The world is on the brink of ruin. The Goddess’ chosen must fight back, lest Abomination consume everything. Everything is hurtling towards catastrophe. The Blade is lost. People have died. Abomination is still out there. No one knows what to do… but they have to do something. Without the Blade tying him to the situation, Jamirh feels adrift and forgotten about as the government of Romanii tries to brace itself for what’s coming. Takeshi is still trying to navigate whether or not he wants to be a priest of Hades, but the effects of his encounter with the Truth Seekers are making everything more difficult. Ander blames himself for not foreseeing the events at Tilden Base and has locked himself away in his lab. After centuries of being controlled by the Empire, the Seekers themselves have their own plans – which may or may not align with those of the goddess. But what even is Abomination? What is magic? Why do these two forces find themselves in conflict cycle after cycle, and what does it mean for the mortals who find themselves caught between them? As Abomination begins to gain ground, can anything be done to stop it? Or will the world finally end in ruin? |
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Where we come from does not define where we go A long time ago, Abomination almost succeeded. A man who had lost everything found something to have faith in. A child of the desert found a Master of Blades in a cold forest far from home. A half-Avari struggling to find a place for himself has his life implode around him. These stories from the past, both distant and near, are collected into this anthology. Nine short stories featuring Hades, Jak, Sukra, Ander, and more offer a glimpse into life at different moments on Gaia. As magic pulses through the world in a spectrum of colors, how will it shape the characters we have come to know in Blades of the Goddess? |
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The Flowered Blade by Taylor Hubbard Crown Prince, the elf Silvyr Quilen is the family disappointment. His father, High King Keryth Quilen of Athowen, wanted a son to follow in his image. A warlord who rules with no regard for those around him and will do anything to maintain his power, the king finds Silvyr's desire to spend his days in the flowers and libraries to be pathetic and useless. Even so, Silvyr strives to receive his father's approval. On a diplomatic journey to Xeatia, where he was meant to collect taxes and return with a report on their financial situation, Silvyr is suddenly forced to confront the consequences of his fathers actions when the Orcs of Ghizol attack his caravan. Chief Brokil of the Ghizol Orcs has been tasked with leading and protecting his people. For years he sacrificed and waged war to ensure the people who voted for him to lead could live in peace. For that reason, the risk was worth the reward. With the approval of the Ghizol council of Elders, Brokil executes his plan: Kidnap the Prince of Athowen, Silvyr Quilen, and send their ultimatum to the King. Leave Ghizol alone, or have his heir be killed. Keeping Silvyr as his ward, Brokil finds that while the prince was the most annoying person he's ever met, he is also nothing like his father who carries the name Tyrant King. Absolutely bewildered and exhilarated, Silvyr and Brokil are forced to confront themselves and each other while the looming threat of Ghizol's demands hang over them. |
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Abomination has returned. The Goddess must strike back before all is lost — but are her chosen ready? Jamirh: A thousand years ago, the Avari Hero Ebryn Stormlight saved the world from falling to Abomination, making a bargain with the goddess of death in the process. Ebryn reborn, Jamirh wants very little to do with the bargain his predecessor made with Hades. Still, how much of the choice is his own, when the bionic Abominations of the Empire have attacked him directly in the heart of Romanii? He took up the Crystal Light Blade, and has been learning how to utilize his inherent magic as a Master of Blades, but will it be enough? Or is it too little, too late? Takeshi: Haunted by the ghosts the two women he failed to save, Takeshi is fleeing north, trying to accomplish the last thing Hel told him to do - find Ander. It's all he has left to him, since returning to Ni Fon is no longer an option. But with the threat of more debilitating migraines and the realization that something is wrong with him and his magic, even the safety of Tarvishte may not be enough. Ander: The Abomination has attacked Romanii in its capital city. The Eighth High Priest of the goddess Hades, Ander finds himself with more questions than answers - Will they attack again? How did they reach Tarvishte in the first place? How has the Empire managed to combine tech and magic? Why are they being constructed from Avari? He is also responsible for Takeshi as the potential priest makes his way north. They know Abomination has something to do with Takeshi's condition - but what? |
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The Stars Want Blood by Morgan Lawson When a summer's wind whips through the spring gardens, when air meets earth, a fate that has long since been written amongst the stars will unfurl itself… There was only so long that anybody could handle living while disregarding every single piece of advice from their psychiatrist, and Hazel Culhane was reaching their breaking point. Hoping to recharge themself enough to handle the challenge of getting better, they tuck themself into a hidden cabin for a week. It wasn’t a bad idea, but they couldn’t have predicted that something would be waiting for them in those woods, something significantly more frightening than their own crumbling sanity… All of the Constellites — the celestial gods borne from the stars of the zodiac constellations — knew what fate had planned for them. It was the same in each generation of them. And as the Virgo god, Ezra Thompson should have been no exception. He doesn’t know why his Gemini counterpart came along so late, or why their newfound divinity doesn’t fit them, but it doesn’t take him very long to figure out that the quirky and unstable Hazel — the Constellite of Geminorum — is still his fate. Fate has given them love, but with it, destruction. Will they be able to rewrite fate and save themselves? Or will they get pulled into the event horizon that fate has waiting for them? ... and it will demand blood. |
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The Hidden World of Kaishi by N.R. Wolfman Lilah always heard her grandfather's stories growing up, talking about a magical world he used to visit known as Kaishi. A world where animals had magical abilities, but that was plagued by a darkness known as the Shadow Beast who destroys everything he touches. After his death, Lilah inherits the key to Kaishi and has to finish the battle that her grandfather never did. With her friends by her side, can she defeat the Shadow Beast and restore order to the hidden world? |
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The Odyllic Stone by Alex Scheuermann When Aster Rutherford, the postmaster's son and his childhood friend, Zinnia Hollyhock deliver a letter to the Pelware Mines, they are attacked by a birdlike monster that turns men to stone. Even worse, Buckwheat Village is plagued by an illness that's incapacitating villagers, including Aster's own father. A chance encounter with Kara Reeves, the brash quartermaster of the Blue Skies, leads Aster to hitch a ride to the capital city in search of a doctor. Aster's quest takes him from the dizzying spires of New Portsmith to the caves of Munayallpa and the forests of Tembour. Along the way Aster reconnects with his estranged mother and comes face-to-face with the god of a foreign land. Can Aster and the crew of the Blue Skies overcome pirates, politics, and monsters to cure Buckwheat Village before it's too late? |
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The Envoys of War by Dave Lawson Don’t kill the messengers. As a bodyguard for the King’s Envoys, Gen is content with her life of traveling, drinking wine, and hitting things with her sword. It’s the perfect job. Until the King sends her and her friend Cordyn into war-torn enemy territory on a mission to deliver vital military intelligence to an allied nation. The problem? The mission is a sham. Gen is tasked with determining if Cordyn is a spy who is selling information to the enemy. Cordyn is the worst kind of libertine: brash, arrogant, and on the run from half the husbands in the kingdom, but Gen can’t imagine him betraying her or their nation. With obtuse bandits, vengeful mages, and a resolute lutist, they embark on a daring rescue mission, complicated by Cordyn’s increasingly complex schemes. As ominous enemy plots surface, Gen and Cordyn must decide what matters most. Their nation or their friends. A rollicking fantasy adventure for fans of Dungeons and Dragons, Nicholas Eames, and Michael J. Sullivan. |
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The Cat and the Brat by D.T. Brandt What happens when unstoppable grump meets immovable sunshine? Samiel is trying to keep his head down, but the other castle guards are keen to remind him he isn't worthy of the job he'll probably inherit - his father's as captain and royal confidant. Of course, “keeping his head down” is not how they'd put it; Samiel's defensiveness is spiky, and keeps even his most likely allies at a distance. When Prince Rapuska of Tyria, a Felien, arrives at the guard corps as a diplomatic envoy to Corniss, his highest priority is getting the lay of the land. His most readily available source of information there is his new the enigmatic Samiel. Even with this chance at a fresh start, Samiel tries to keep Rapuska away so the prince’s reputation isn’t tarnished by association with him. Rapuska sees Samiel’s fire differently, however—as a keenness and conviction that may be exactly why he’s still positioned for the future he is. Their mutual concern starts small, but when Samiel is sent to accompany Rapuska back home to Tyria for the Queen’s birthday they find the whole capital has entered Felien heat season and their feelings for each other are pushed to their limits. The Cat and the Brat is a cisbi M / transgay M fantasy romance novel, with a nonbinary AMAB author. |
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Recipient of the 2023 Best Novella Award from the Queer Indie Awards. Work as a Curse Breaker is anything but glamorous. It’s difficult, gruesome at times, and it takes Curse Breaker Thierry Pryor to places better left untouched. The Paris Catacombs were once a symbol of French identity, the true sign of death making all equal in the end, but after centuries of layered spell work, ancient hexes, and more than one hastily patched protective charm, the resulting magical amalgam has begun to break down, tainting the surrounding land. It’s up to Thierry and his team to figure out the source of the miasma and quell it before it begins having an effect on those living above the city of the dead. But unlike the jobs before, there’s something at work in the catacombs much more sinister than some moldering family curse. Sometimes the dead sleep more soundly than the living, but then again, maybe some of the dead don’t sleep willingly at all... |
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A witch with a dead familiar is an outlier and an ill-omen to every village they pass through. Rehan Nadir is one such witch. The only jobs available to him are terrible ones, and vagrancy is his only recourse… At least, it was until he heard tell of the town of Hamelin’s plight. Stories of a malicious entity, a chaos god, have tormented the village for hundreds of years, and like clockwork tragedy has struck once more: while the adults gathered elsewhere, the children were spirited away. No trace of them has been seen since. The town is desperate to bring them back. Very desperate. Finding and returning the lost children would be just the thing to give Rehan a new chance at the life he lost after the death of his familiar, and if all it takes is killing a god of chaos, then he’s more than ready to take the plunge and open that door. Unfortunately, he just didn’t anticipate opening a few more in the midst of dealing the finishing blow. |
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Through High Waters by Allison Paige Leah has done everything she can to escape the demon apocalypse that havocs Earth, including dying. When Raum revives Leah, it is not just for the simple pleasure of it, but to hunt down the man that killed her, Sebastian. The three become unlikely companions when they are taken into Pethaino, a demon kingdom that has not succumbed to the return of the bees. Led by a ruthless king, it is a place where only the wicked thrive and even demons are expendable. Within the fortress lies power that could very well shift the tides of humanity’s fate and restore Hell’s order. But as the Pacific coast rises, Leah must make a decision that forces her to choose between her freedom and Sebastian’s. Where even her loyalty to Raum is tested and tried. Is her life worth more than theirs? And if it is, what price is she willing to pay for it? |
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After the Bees by Allison Paige It starts when the bees die and a plague sweeps across the Earth. The immune survive only to face a greater horror: a demon-ruled world where mankind is either marked or possessed. But Leah survives. For three years, she lives on her own after fleeing the fall of her city until she meets Raum, a demon who keeps her alive and unmarked. Uncertain of his motives, she follows him to Babel, even though she knows his intentions are anything but good. When Leah is stolen from Raum, she discovers the outside world is not what it once was, and perhaps hope for mankind is not lost. But with new hope comes consequences, and she'll have to face a nightmare far greater than anything she's ever faced before. |
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Fangs and Felonies by K. Malady In a city torn between humans and the paranormal, attorney Emily Lane thrives on ambition and her dreams of making partner. Her one vice? Illegal encounters letting vampires drink her blood. But when a prominent anti-creature businessman meets a sticky end and the local vamp coven leader Lucian is arrested, Emily's life takes a dramatic turn. Determined to prove his innocence, she teams up with the accused, the vamp whose looks are as potent as his bite, and crew of paranormal creatures. As Emily gets further entangled into the murder investigation, she wades through a world unseen by humans, where trust is scarcer than a werewolf at a flea market. But with every step, she risks her reputation and career. Can she clear Lucian's name without destroying everything she's worked for? Join Emily on a fast-paced journey of intrigue, romance, and unlikely connections in this paranormal mystery, Fangs and Felonies. |
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The Dark Side of Super by Matthew Siadak Superpowers, the ability to be something more. This collection of stories weaves together the tales of eleven individuals who have come into their own power. When their backs are against the wall, each of them will have to make a choice. Felix must watch what he says, his voice carrying an addictive power. Jasper must learn to look before he leaps while figuring out his teleportation ability, much to the dismay of his sister Enid, whose emotions bring rain and thunder. Sabrina struggles against the relentless flow of time, no matter how she tries to turn the clock back. Nikhail hides from the fame, or infamy, the power to heal brings. These stories and more delve into the dark side of being super. They can rise up like heroes, or let their powers corrupt them. Find out which side of human nature prevails! |
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Black Brilliance by Dr. Joel Anthony Hamilton The unheard ancient Egyptian tale of Aqil, the great musician and scientist. It was luck, or rather, fate that he stumbled upon a cursed microscope; stolen from the god Thoth himself. It gave him the power to see something no man had seen before: DNA. Aqil had the unusual gift of seeing DNA as music, could apply his knowledge of science, and performed miracles by playing his Egyptian ney; miracles that could replicate or even mutate DNA. Whispers spread that he could heal the injured, cause life-threatening afflictions, and cure the sick. Rumors also spread that he could change a frog into a fish and a mouse into a snake. Others say he could turn a human into a demon, or even a god. The truth to the rumors was unknown. However, one thing was certain. Any person who peered into the microscope was placed under a heavy curse. Aqil was often given difficult tasks, having to rely on his mind to keep himself, and others alive. When asked to do the impossible, he had to utilize his brilliance to combine his musical abilities, his knack for science, and the cursed microscope to perform miracles. His story will be heard across the world. However, pray you never hear the distinct melody of his prized instrument, his Egyptian ney, for that would mean one of two things. You could be in earshot of him performing a miracle, or you could be the target. Some have very different perceptions of what a miracle is. |
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Wayward Daughter by Alyssa Frace 17-year-old Genesis Belle would do anything to leave the monster hunting world behind–even make a deal with one of the world’s most accomplished hunters: her mother. All she has to do is kill the creature lurking in the shadows of their town before her mom does. If she wins, she can follow her cross-country road trip dreams without slaying monsters on the way, but if she loses, she’ll have to keep working at a hunting outpost masquerading as a dingy diner. She’s sure this bet is exactly what she needs to finally be able to do whatever she wants. Thanks to the help of the apothecary-in-training, Red, she assumes winning will be easy enough. He’ll help her with the boring part (researching monsters) and she’ll do the important part (killing monsters). It should be as easy as the pie she serves at the diner, but the further down the rabbit hole she goes, the higher the body count. And she’s pretty sure her mom’s shady monster hunting tactics are to blame. Armed with a broken mermaid artifact, that annoyingly nosy apothecary, and lots of spite, Genesis must traverse the monster hunting world and utilize her skills to win the bet and save the town from the magic lurking in the shadows. |
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Smuggler's Fortune by Angela Boord Kyrra d'Aliente's metal arm has always been her salvation, but will it now become her downfall? Peace may have been declared in Liera, but the city is a dangerous place for mercenary Kyrra d’Aliente. Her family is dead, her pockets empty, the man she loves missing, and now, some out-of-work sellswords want to steal her metal arm. When an encounter with an old friend leads to a smuggling job, she’s more than willing to hop on board in exchange for a bag of coins and a little revenge. But as this deceptively simple job leads down an ever more treacherous path into Kyrra's past, will the mysterious cargo be worth the danger it brings—or will it cost her far more than her arm? Smuggler’s Fortune is a standalone novella set in the award-winning Eterean Empire epic fantasy series. If you like fast-paced stories with a cast of complex characters and a strong female protagonist, you’ll love Angela Boord’s action-packed adventure. |
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The Reanimator's Remains by Kara Jorgensen An autistic necromancer, his undead love, and a covenant that must be broken. Oliver Barlow never knew what happened to his parents. With a note from his mother as his only lead, Oliver had given up hope of ever learning the truth. But when the dead start rising in the town of Aldorhaven, Oliver jumps at the chance to take the case if it means he can investigate the last place his parents were seen alive. Felipe Galvan would like to be anywhere but Aldorhaven. Between protecting Oliver and Gwen, dealing with distrustful townsfolk, and an unexpected letter from his estranged parents, Felipe is already stretched thin. But when he is suddenly plagued by whispers from the woods and nightmares from his past, Felipe fears he is only one misstep away from becoming the monster he was meant to be. Far more sinister things than the dead lurk in Aldorhaven's woods. A centuries old bargain has been broken, and the only thing that can satisfy it is Oliver's blood. Together, Oliver, Felipe, and Gwen must finish what Oliver's parents started or they too will be ensnared by their devil's bargain |
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The Little Goblin by Joanne Lecuyer Picture book for ages 5-7. With all the courage he can muster, a little goblin, named Gorzak, sets out to find a rare shroom to help save his maba and stumbles upon an unlikely helper! |
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A Night So Dark And Full Of Stars by Nikky Lee A half-siren girl befriends a deaf boy. A vendetta between a teenager and her dad's stubborn ram continues into the afterlife. A hunter must atone for killing a god's sacred bull. A sacrificial maiden uncovers the secret of the wizards who rule her people. A new acolyte causes a godling to confront her past - and her deadly gift. A Night so Dark and Full of Stars from multi-award winning author Nikky Lee contains twelve stories inspired by the astrological zodiacs. From ghosts and gods to fae and folklore, Lee's blend of vividly imagined fantasia invites us to imagine alternative worlds, dark pasts and far flung futures as we gaze into the night. |
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A Necessary Chaos by Brett Lambert Vade is an anarchist, a Phantom Dragon. Althus is a Touchstone--an Imperial agent. Their love was never meant to survive. In a world of magical empires and the anarchists that would tear them down, A Necessary Chaos is the story of Althus and Vade, assigned to spy on the other by opposing sides. But now that they've both caught feelings, where will their loyalties fall? They must each decide if they'll follow orders or find a way to make their romance thrive beyond the lies. Part of the Neon Hemlock Novella Series. |
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The Fairy Wren by Ashley Capes From the moment a fairy wren drops his lost wedding ring at his feet, Paul realises there's more magic to the world than he thought... When Paul Fischer receives a strange phone call asking for help, from a woman who might be his estranged wife Rachel, he's drawn into a mysterious search that threatens not only his struggling bookstore, but long-buried dreams too. Unfortunately, the only help comes from a shady best friend, an Italian runaway and a strange blue fairy wren that seems to be trying to tell him something - yet the further he follows the clues it leaves the less sense the world seems to make. Is he on the verge of a magical, beautiful discovery or at the point of total disaster? |
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The Sound of Starfall by Scott Palmer This is the end The Warlocks of Yehven have ruled over the Remembered Lands with their songs of dark sorcery since the skies were new. But now, beneath the shadow of an approaching comet, a mysterious death cult from the wild lands have arrived in the name of Nature to exterminate the Warlocks and their sorcerous Words with them. As the death cult breaches the walls of the Golden City and Ailar crumbles into anarchy, a Warlock, an enslaved man, and a guard are forced to make decisions that will shape the world for thousands of years to come. The sky is falling Nightmares are waking The sound of starfall eats all else |
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James is convinced that the gods have cursed him, left to fend for himself in a squalid city-state in the clutches of a corrupt theocracy. As a lamplighter, James serves the palace by illuminating the streets each night with a flame from the gods' temple. Despite his disdain for the gods, he feels a connection with the flame, and a surprising yet small amount of control over its brightness. For him, a quiet life weathering the desert was all he had to look forward to. That is, until others appear. From distant corners of the world, each has connective power to the gods, and each a past of great consequence. A soldier, an idealist, a hero, and a monster. Each squabbles according to their own desires, but cannot afford to exist alone any longer. Ancient devils and horrors beyond time have come to reclaim the world from the gods, but the forms they take and power they wield are anything but understood. The debut epic fantasy novel of author Rob Leigh, Pathlighter depicts a world struggling to grapple with the consequences of an unknown past and uncaring gods, featuring nuanced characters and a story of self-realization, found family, betrayal, and hope. |
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Performances of a Death Metal Bard: A Brutal Novella by Rob Leigh Unfortunately, Death Metal doesn’t get much play in this sleepy, peaceful, actually kind of boring kingdom. Of course not. It’s tough inventing a genre on your own, and it doesn’t help when all the instruments you’ve tried up to this point don’t match the brutality necessary for a dark and heavy performance. My coin only seems to be enough to get me to the next run-down village, and it’s dwindling fast. To make matters worse, my newest lute is not normal. It never stays in tune, it’s barely holding together, and it keeps whispering to me. Over and over, demands for vengeance and murder echo in my head, with the promise that I’ll find the sound I need if I just listen to the voices. So what’s a starving bard to do? Performances of a Death Metal Bard is a brutal fantasy adventure inspired by The Witcher and Metalocalypse, merging the episodic travels of a musical elf with the darkness, blood, and raw riffs of the heaviest metal the kingdom has ever seen. |
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An Exile of Water & Gold by Joshua Walker Brandon Sanderson's Rhythm of War meets Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time in this epic fantasy mystery adventure. EXILED FROM HEAVEN. FORCED INTO HELL. For centuries, the Aobians of the Great Tree have shared the continent of Q’ara with humanity. A select few known as Sleepers are empowered by Luminosity, the Tree’s greatest blessing. Drift, a young and cynical Aobian, has been exiled from his homeland – forever. Now, with no understanding of this condemnation, Drift must traverse the land of humans below, and find his purpose in an ever-changing world. Tarri, his betrothed, seeks to do the same, whilst also bringing him home. Elsewhere on Q’ara, an unknown organisation seeks to weaponise Luminosity for their own nefarious purposes. Drift himself is a part of this puzzle, and it quickly becomes apparent that the struggle for true power in Q’ara is emerging for reasons greater than anyone is prepared to grasp. |
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The Storm Beneath the World by Michael R. Fletcher Cursed by the gods. The insectile ashkaro live on flying islands travelling the eternal River of Days while a hellish firestorm devours the world below. Collected into queendoms, the higher caste brights live in the luxurious windward rain-forest while the servile dulls scrape out a desperate existence in the leeward desert. Conflicts escalate between two neighbouring queendoms. Where Nysh embraces modern ideals of equality and independence, Yil honours the Fallen Goddess by enslaving their neighbours and maintaining traditional castes. In preparation for the imminent war, Nysh sends ashkaro youths with dangerous Talents to secret schools, training them as assassins and spies. Joh, a dull male with a Talent for suggestion, and Ahk, a bright female with a Talent for stealth, are torn from their families and thrown into the academy. The two naively believe that the biggest threat comes from the other students, not realizing the war has already begun. United in purpose, divided by caste, they can only save the island from the Mad Queen by working together. |
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This Is How Immortals Die by Nicole Hidalgo Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, unleashed a life-changing apocalypse that reshaped the world and cursed humankind with immortality. Now injury, old age, and death mean nothing. Until the Soul connects with its Twin. Once true Love is found, immortality is lost. The Priestesses of Aphrodite exist to hunt down and send those blessed souls to Aphrodite’s Golden Palace in the afterlife. They are devout and efficient… if only a little blinded by the lustre of gold and the taste of blood. Carys Epistro’phia, an infamous Priestess, will go to great lengths to put her hands on a chest with fifty thousand gold coins. Including turning a blind eye to Twin Souls who rule over an isolated island and are willing to hire her unique skills to bring their daughter back home. Princess Ishana, a fragile and naive girl who has never died before, is Carys’ key to the treasure… as long as she arrives home with her soul intact. But in this sacrilegious contract, not everything is as it seems, and sometimes the heart has its own schemes. |
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This Hole Was Made For (You And) Me by Sienna Eggler Despite constant setbacks, from giant carnivorous plants to fetch quests disguised as life lessons, Meike quickly adapts to life in Glasend. Armed with their growing knowledge of magic, and a thirst for adventure, Meike and friends turn their sights to the neglected Silverstone Mine. But there’s more than gold and silver lurking in its depths… Trolls and kobolds haunt the area, having run out the miners and ransacked the nearby village of Ashfort. Abandoned by their own country, the citizens are desperate for any help they can get. But as the gang comes to find, there’s a reason many have failed to liberate the mine… This Hole Was Made For (You And) Me is the second book of the Last Train Home series, a portal fantasy in a queer normative world. |
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The Threads That Weave by Sienna Eggler Tormented by memories of past lives and a general distaste for structure, Sloane dropped out of a prestigious magic college to find themself. During their travels, they came across a curious little creature: a chatty spider that fit snugly in their hands. Unbeknownst to Sloane, this wasn’t a harmless garden or cellar spider. The spider had a craving that mere flies couldn’t quench. It demanded blood and flesh, and when mice failed to suffice, moved on to bigger and dangerous prey. Sloane appeased it as best they could, but as the spider rapidly shot up in size, turned their focus from butcher shops to farms. Together, they concocted a plan to “solve” a manifested loss of cattle. The spider got a steady supply of food, and Sloane got street cred as a “monster slayer”. “What could possibly go wrong?” – Famous last words of any irresponsible pet owner. So now Sloane has a very real infestation to contend with, along with suspicious rangers and wannabe hunters edging in on their turf. “…I’m gonna need a bigger boot.” |
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The Revenge of Captain Vessia by Leslie Allen Claire Vessia's been sentenced to death. The last survivor of a ship of would-be-pirates captured by the navy, she's been accused of all of their crimes. She will die for it. Determined to go out with her head held high, her plans for a stoic execution are thrown out the window when a highborn lady offers her a chance to escape the noose... if she pays in vials of her own blood. But she is betrayed. Hung from the gallows and buried at sea, she rises amidst the waves as a Vampyri, an undead monster. Without a clue of where, or even what she is, and only a terrible hunger to guide her, it's only when she consumes a person trying to help her that she begins to understands what's been done to her. Swearing revenge against the noble woman that turned her, the nation that accused her, and its people that killed her, Claire makes an oath that she will hunt down anyone under the navy's flag, and carve a blood-strewn path on her quest for vengeance. But when the perfect chance to strike takes the form of the child of her maker - Claire must ask herself how far she's willing to go for justice. |
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In Which a Demon King Does Not Have a Romantic Interest in His Human Gardener by Rori Thornton Demon King Jurao returns from his successful thirty-year Union Campaign and discovers something amiss - the castle gardens have a secret caretaker. Using his authority over the sentient plants, he discovers the gardener is... a human! But after hearing the man out, Jurao decides to appoint Braelin as the official Royal Gardener for all his hard work. Now he just needs to figure out why everyone seems to believe he is romantically interested in the human... |
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The Edge of a World by JD Rivers A monster lurks under Otar's skin. It has destroyed lives and Otar lives in fear when it will escape his grasp again. But he isn't the only thing that seems out of place in this world: a mysterious ancestor, the Ancients, left behind nothing but ruins and questions. After the monster causes a tragic accident, Otar chooses to travel the Seven Lands to find answers instead of being executed. But time is running out. When the summon for a newly discovered ruin comes, it's his last chance to clear his name. On his journey he faces down slavers looking for easy money, and his former lover - who still makes his heart beat faster. Then the excavation site finally reveals the truths about the Ancients, and it becomes clear that something bigger lurks in the shadows. Otar's connection to his monster could save them all from a catastrophe - but will he be willing to sacrifice it all? The Edge of a World is a Fantasy Sci-Fi story about self-discovery, destiny, and paving your own path. |
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The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard An impulsive word can start a war. A timely word can stop one. A simple act of friendship can change the course of history. Cliopher Mdang is the personal secretary of the Last Emperor of Astandalas, the Lord of Rising Stars, the Lord Magus of Zunidh, the Sun-on-Earth, the god. He has spent more time with the Emperor of Astandalas than any other person. He has never once touched his lord. He has never called him by name. He has never initiated a conversation. One day Cliopher invites the Sun-on-Earth home to the proverbially remote Vangavaye-ve for a holiday. The mere invitation could have seen Cliopher executed for blasphemy. The acceptance upends the world. |
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Anathema and Tidbit by Stephanie Barr Rejected even by her own kind, Anathema, the albino dragon, always thought she’d live her centuries alone until, on a whim—on a compulsion—she rescued a tiny black kitten from certain death. She could never have guessed what his companionship would mean for her. More, she could never have predicted the impact sharing her life with him would have on her and so many others. Or the powerful persona lurking in that tiny feline morsel she called Tidbit. |
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On the harsh, barren planet of Sands, in the small settlement of Oasis, live three young companions: the inseparable fennecs Bori and Tuther, and their best friend, the hyena Samna. Bori is psionic—and on the distant planet of Verdant, psionics are fervently sought. When the two planets are in conjunction, a shuttle journeys between them, bringing needed resources to Sands and hoping to take gifted psionics back to lush Verdant in return. The shuttle’s imminent arrival signifies opportunities for Oasis, but for the trio it instead evokes dread. For if Bori is chosen, he’d be taken from his dearest friends and the only home he’s ever known. Bori would be broken without Tuther. Tuther would be broken without Bori. And Samna? All he can do is help make their remaining days together a little brighter. |
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What dies in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Vampire playboy Eddy Fry has spent years living it up, so to speak, in Las Vegas. In all those decades, not once has he met another of his kind. Until tonight. Eddy learns that, not only are there other vampires out there, the one after him is older and much more powerful than he is. As if that wasn't bad enough, she’s got a small army of supernatural creatures at her beck and call. In a flash, she’s muscled him out of the casino he calls home and left him with an offer he can’t refuse. Out-gunned and out of his depth, Eddy will need to find his own allies, allies who know their way around this whacked-out supernatural world he’s been ignoring for so long. Otherwise, he might just see his first sunrise in years… |
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Disenchanted by Brianna Sugalski The Princess Bride and Buffy the Vampire Slayer meet Sarah J. Maas' Throne of Glass in this Breton legend-inspired fantasy debut brimming with wry humor, epic adventure, and an irresistible romance. Lilac Trécesson is a prisoner in her parents' castle after a most wicked secret was revealed on the eve of her fifteenth birthday. Years later, her Accession looms upon her father's decision to abdicate, and between the riotous townsfolk and scheming nobles bent on snatching her throne, she prepares for the worst… Until a letter arrives from The Witch of Lupine Grotto, containing a curious offer to banish her curse forever. She begrudgingly trades her coronet for a cloak and ventures into the forest Brocéliande, only to find herself cornered by a bloodthirsty barkeep who demands her help in exchange for protection against the even deadlier forces of the woods. With only the protection of her inherited dagger—and unsolicited help of the sardonic stranger who inserts himself on her quest—Lilac must find the impious enchantress and return in time to claim her crown. Pity the fool to underestimate the girl with subpar blade skills but the spite to make up for it. This is the tale of a cursed princess, A crestfallen killer, The town that wants them to burn, And the witch who can save them both. |
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Accrue's End: Affliction by E.R. Smo His parents were heroes, and now he may get his chance to be one. Whether he’s ready or not. When Kyo’s godfather is infected by the corruption-a spreading affliction that turns people into murderous shadow monsters, he goes to the only mages who can help. But the duo are not the kindly healers they appear. Kyo stumbles upon the victims of their manipulation and necromancy magics, and during the confrontation, the pair vanish with his godfather as a hostage. Desperate to reclaim his family, Kyo gives chase, but his first encounter teaches him he won’t defeat them alone. With the help of an anxiety-ridden cleric, a runaway princess, a fatherly stowaway, and a ten-year-old with the power to summon gods, he sets out to stop the mages before they turn the entire world into living dead and ravenous shades. |
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Blood Red Nails: The Guardians of Iohiri Series Book 1 by L. Joyce “Iohir, the land of the dead and the living. You will take me there, right?” The world is full of creatures of myth and legend, as well as alternate universes where the dead can reside, where ghosts can mate with the living. Known simply as Ghost Mates, one of them is about to take the world by storm. Asho Woodward, the autistic heir to the Woodward family, never thought he would find himself becoming a Ghost Mate, much less Mating with the ghost responsible for the crimes and murders that have happened over the last several decades in his town. Already dealing with his life and himself, Asho was not prepared for the events to come as a result of his Mating… ones that would change his life forever and likely threaten those he loves. And, he will need more than his Mate’s help to save himself and those he loves, or else everything he knows will be destroyed. |